✅ SOLVED Test your skills on this one! Spent years trying to ID this.

[musclecar]

I found this in Alaska about 10 years ago, and have never been able to ID it. It is an aluminum piece, about 3 inches square. It has 15 teeth and is numbered 1-15. There is a stop preventing it from spinning freely. The back has two tabs that may have been used to mount it. ANY GUESSES?

Thanks,

MC

PS The quarter used for size was found yesterday! 1935S Yeah!

 

[Mr Ripley]

I realize that I should not belly up to this bar without a picture, but I will toss this in none the less.

Years ago an acquaintance of mine brought me an odd counting device with some similarities to this item, and I cannot find any of the scans of it.

If you can imagine this mechanism, counting dial out, sandwiched between two sheets of metal. This metal casing would be slightly larger than a modern business card. The dial end was thicker than the end you held. The thin end was embossed with the name and address of a local lumber wholesaler, which again brings up the business card thing.

Whatever they were counting, they were in groups of fifteen. Is this a common amount of Xs in a Y of lumber or cordwood

I will try to find the pic. this was at least ten years ago...

Mr R

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Ive done about all I could and I will be sending it back to its owner soon (Goodyguy) and maybe on to the Leno show! But I took a couple pics. Ill crop them later. I tried to take a pic with my loupe to show where I believe it was cut with tin snips. I think we are missing something, possibly a belt clip.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

This has been mentioned several times before and Bob reminded me that it may clip on a fence or be an incubation counter so I thought it deserved a second (or third lol) look. I was surprised that it clipped tight onto a wire fence quite well. It should fit different size fence but it doesnt look as if the bottom tabs were ever bent up. I originally ruled out counter because it wouldnt stay on a number but with a tighter rivet and/or washer it might work. The rivet is indeed loose. I dont believe it goes on a belt and I think the survey idea has come to a dead end.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Here are pics of going from 5 to 6.

 

[IronSpike]

I think incubator counter is the best bet so far. Good pics BCH

 

[Goodyguy]

I thing you are definitely on the right track with a cage or fence mounted counter ........but what did it count

None of the vets or farmer supply companies that I showed it to in person had an ID, but I still like the way it fits onto a fence.

GG~

 

[Goodyguy]

This was post from Nov. 2006 and was the reason for me visiting vets and farm supply companies.

I have seen something similiar mounted on either a fence ,or a rabbit cage I don,t exactly Remember,but could it be used to keep track of some interval like vaccinations or innoculation?

This is where I first considered the cage counter idea as a possibility.
http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,58818.msg1505685.html#msg1505685

This is a partial list of places visited in person.
http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,58818.msg1520335.html#msg1520335

GG~

 

[mojjax]

I think incubator counter is the best bet so far. Good pics BCH

Chicks hatch in 21 days .

 

[IronSpike]

I think incubator counter is the best bet so far. Good pics BCH

Chicks hatch in 21 days .

Maybe a quarantine counter. Rabies 15 days incubation period.

 

[intimer]

to me if it doesn't have definite stops or clicks at each number. then it would be variable, like a thermostat or something else to be set not counted.
i see it attached to a wire or thin bar as on the fence idea. but also set at the bottom where the two flat pieces are spaced. it looks like they are fashioned or bent (see picture two and three from bigcy) to accomplish this.
i have harped on the idea that a very thin coil of wire (spring like) could have been attached to the nib bent up at the number fifteen. to me the whole face was covered only exposing the number at the pointer and the pointer and of course the gear tooth to be advanced by finger tip. the spring/coil then could have been attached to a thin rod which could have attached to a rheostat (?) or something moving to a max amt. and back.. i believe this rod connecting to something telling the numbers where to be, or vice versa, could achieve this by rotating over the top of the face of the "what's it" and under the cover plate i imagine!!!!

it's not something i want to draw. but simply a measuring device connected to the "whats it" with a thin rod. excuse trying to explain something i have a hard time doing so.

 

[intimer]

dang it...i overcooked the potatoes for potato salad while writing my previous post.

 

[gambol1]

Hi, I'm new to the board and a newbie to MD. Having a great time coin shooting here in Florida. I would say it is not an adjuster of any type. Reason being when you rotate the wheel nothing changes but the number. Gauges, such as spark plug gauges or shim gauges have a variation in one part of the gauge. Its a counter of some sort. It could have been part of a larger machine. the tabs on the bottom look like they are for alignment and the two straight "legs" look like they fit into slots in some other device.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Yes the rivet has become loose over time. It may be hard for you to see in the pic but I am studying it in person under magnification and something like a round washer has left a mark. I tried to point to it with the red arrow. Its mostly above the rivet, a curved scoring scratch or depression left in the metal from something turning. .

Now that you have conceded that something might have been attached to the backside, maybe you can revisit the thermostat idea. Like turning a cam/wheel.

This aluminum gimmick is more than likely meant to be a set it and leave it alone deal. Hanging from a belt or dredging it around surveying seems a little bit on the strenuous side.

Its very small and light, so I dont know what you mean as strenuous but it doesnt fit well on a belt. As far as it being a thermostat, I will know concede after inspecting it that its possible to attach to the electronics for a mini fridge. I dont think so, though, with the one increment at a time movement.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Keep in mind that there are missing parts. If the gizmo was a counter, the numbers would more than likely lock in place, or a simple bump or brush against would mess up the count

That was my argument all along against a counter. I wasnt going to mention it, but it appears to have a definite scoring mark on the backside of the sprocket wheel and can be observed through the triangle "window" on the backside. I cant figure out what could have left the mark on the backside of the wheel. Its possible to be a missing part locking it in place on each indent on the backside of the sprocket teeth. I dont know if this makes any sense, ill have to take a pic tommorrow..

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

to me if it doesn't have definite stops or clicks at each number. then it would be variable, like a thermostat or something else to be set not counted.
i see it attached to a wire or thin bar as on the fence idea. but also set at the bottom where the two flat pieces are spaced. it looks like they are fashioned or bent (see picture two and three from bigcy) to accomplish this.
i have harped on the idea that a very thin coil of wire (spring like) could have been attached to the nib bent up at the number fifteen. to me the whole face was covered only exposing the number at the pointer and the pointer and of course the gear tooth to be advanced by finger tip. the spring/coil then could have been attached to a thin rod which could have attached to a rheostat (?) or something moving to a max amt. and back.. i believe this rod connecting to something telling the numbers where to be, or vice versa, could achieve this by rotating over the top of the face of the "what's it" and under the cover plate i imagine!!!!

it's not something i want to draw. but simply a measuring device connected to the "whats it" with a thin rod. excuse trying to explain something i have a hard time doing so.

Hello intimer. I know what you are trying to say but I dont think anything connected to the tiny bent up tab. I think its just a stop. Nothing has left a mark on the tab or face of the sprocket wheel..

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Chicks hatch in 21 days .

I guess its not an incubator, my bad. I couldnt remember but there were some suggestions related to agriculture. Maybe a daily dosage counter or rabbit breeder.

OLD POST LEFT BY IVAN: please look at rabbit (doe) breeding gestion times === once bred by day 14 she should show signs of being preg -- by day 16 --she should start packing up nesting box material -- its a 15 day counter from mounting on a heavy duty type 2 inch type heavy duty wire spaced cage --- if showing no signs of being preg by day 15 / 16 --- you rebreed her.

bunnies are cheap meat .

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

A few more "IDeas?" ...

1. One of these days I'm going to make a list of every guess/suggestion ever posted.
(But in the meantime I have to rely on my memory - which ain't that good)
(So I apologize in advance if the following have already been discussed)

2. My Alaskan brother (who just found about this item) came up with ...

Tennis or Volleyball "Score Keeper?" (Both games use 15 points)

And, "no," he is not suggesting it attached to the webbing on a tennis racket .. or did it?

3. I personally like the "It attaches to wire mesh" idea, and would like to add that
part of the incubation process involves "Not Turning" eggs after a certain period.

(I have to admit, this whole incubation thing has me scratching my head - and even though it has a certain amount of merit worth researching, which I may be partly responsible for - I just have to wonder if it's really worth the time? But, you know how I can be, so here I go again on what I hope isn't another wild-chicken chase). LoL





SODABOB

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I personally like the "It attaches to wire mesh" idea, and would like to add that
part of the incubation process involves "Not Turning" eggs after a certain period.

Maybe thats it.

 

[kyphote]

So where might one find a 1940s or 50s catalog that sells incubation counters? This has the markings of something mass produced -- if it is an incubation counter, I can see it or a simlar model being advertised. I wish I saved my father's GRIT magazines.

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

Dear True Grit ~

I like your suggestion about where to find old, printed advertising articles, and have actually looked into this. The truth is -- there are lots of places! Bummer is, most if not all of them charge a fee to view/copy from their "massive" inventories. This is especially true with the old newspaper websites ... lots of everyday old newspapers all the way back to ... ? A long ways! But they charge pretty hefty fees to examine the goods!

So if anybody knows of a free site with images of old newspabers, magazines, etc., please post a link to it for those of us who would like to check it out.

Thanks a mil'

SBB